Conversations by the Kitchen Window

For the past 15 years, Graham and I have been going to the same beach condo in Panama City Beach for vacation (thanks to his generous aunt and uncle!). Every year we prop open the door, turn down the air, unload all our stuff, open the curtain, take a look at the beach and breathe a sigh of contentment and thankfulness to be at the beach. Every year the activities are pretty much the same, just with more and more children- alternating between the beach and the pool, trips to Wal-Mart and the movie store, tacos and seafood. And every year when we want to talk on our phones, we have to stand in the kitchen by the window that faces the parking lot to get any reception. I was thinking about how the conversations have changed over the course of time. From "yes, I feel fine" with my very first pregnancy, to working out real estate contracts that always seem to come up the day before we leave for the beach; discussions about an at home business, questions about a homeschool book order, to "yes, I feel fine" with pregnancy number five! I can track the stages and phases of our family life with the small periods of time spent by the window in the kitchen. No photos or scrapbooks about it- just vivid memories of the journeys God has taken us through the years. I smile when I ponder the conversations in the future- "are you working on your wedding plans?", "are you bringing the grandkids?", " I love you and can't wait to spend time with you." I pray that Jesus will tarry so I can savor the sweet feel of the sunshine and the sound of the voices of those I love while standing by the window in that kitchen.